WORLDWIDE consumer trends are shifting rapidly towards speed and convenience in the delivery processes.
In a world overwhelmed by noise and urgency, it would appear time-conscious customers will always prioritise convenience and customised transport services.
Many supply chain organisations are, therefore, seeing an ocean of possibilities by transforming the final mile delivery process into a strength rather than a constraint.
Those organisations that take transport management services as a strategic imperative will certainly benefit from ensuring that goods are shipped to customers in the most economic and timely manner — with optimal use of resources.
Transportation is the heavy metal link that holds the supply chain together. Every little step of the supply chain is connected through transport management. The customer must be regarded as the top-most priority of a business and by proxy, also of the supply chain.
Tightening up your transportation lines is one way of ensuring that shipments reach the intended customer on time and in good condition.
Whenever we look around ourselves, every object within our reach came to its original destination using some form of transportation.
In the complex and dynamic world of supply chain management, efficient and strategic transportation services play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless flow of goods from manufacturers to end consumers?
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A strategic approach to delivery support services will promote reliability, efficiency and scalability. In today’s brutally-competitive business world, customers will almost always have endless options at their fingertips.
Supply chain professionals are required to always go above and beyond their call of duty to delight customers. Transport services will certainly help to determine how fast customers will be able to get their products and services and to a greater extent, how much they pay for them.
It is, therefore, important to adopt a customer-first approach with a view to deliver tailored solutions that drive service consistence while reducing costs and enhancing customer care service levels.
Agreed facts are that as high as 83% of customers have since confirmed that fast delivery service experience is a deciding factor when faced with a procurement decision to make. Customers will remain unforgiving when nothing goes according to script.
Whenever transportation services fail to perform according to customer expectations, things will quickly go south. Such situations become fertile ground for customer dissatisfaction. In today’s competitive market, where customer expectations will always remain sky-high, the organisation’s hidden weapon could easily turn out to be a seamless transportation service.
If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that customers are now spoilt for choice and will continue to be so spoilt. Customers around the world often expect same-day delivery or at the minimum, strict adherence to a promised delivery schedule.
Staying on top of customer expectations and trends is a big thing for competitive supply chains. It is, therefore, very important to take thoughtful action based on real-world customer expectations.
In industry and commerce, the customer will always remain an independent variable. The customer does whatever it wants, whenever it wants, however it wants. In today’s hyper optimised world, comfort and convenience are often prized by many customers.
When crafting transport management strategies, there is need to always take a few steps back and view the situation from a customer’s perspective. Last mile delivery service is a crucial element of logistics management because it plays such a critical role in keeping customers happy.
Getting products into customer’s hands faster through an error-free service is table stakes. In a world of short attention spans and in a world defined by instant gratification, making customers wait for their goods for too long often means missing the future window of opportunity.
Transport management has been a corporate staple and will continue to be so all day long. It will continue to move the needle for many supply chains. Transport management is a core operational capability and source of strategic value for the business.
It is a critical business enabler to remain competitive. But it demands time and attention to detail. Transportation management is one of those areas that are never thought of until something goes wrong.
It is the engine that keeps everything moving, from raw materials to finished goods. When transportation works, everything else will fall into place. It must be remembered that whether organisations are moving goods across the street or across continents, transportation will always remain the thread that ties everything together.
It is generally regarded as the bloodstream of the entire supply chain. It is one of those specialist service areas where the impact is almost immediate, when drivers miss a delivery date; the reputation of the organisation takes a hit. In business, reputation is everything.
The importance of transport management services goes beyond mere numbers. The logistics optimisation processes will seek to convert the intricacy of delivery challenges and complexities from a liability to an asset.
Recognising transportation’s pivotal position in the product lifecycle is a must do. Every segment of the supply chain is governed by the efficiency and reliability of transport management.
It will act as a unifying platform, fostering smother communication, collaboration and coordination with all stakeholders in the supply chain ecosystem. It will assist businesses to stay organised, being more competitive and scaling to build better relationships with customers.
Every step of the process needs to be connected by an optimised transportation system. It is arguably the linchpin of supply chain management. The various modes of transportation — be it road, air, sea or rail – each has peculiar advantages and applications in the supply chain ecosystem.
For instance, time-sensitive consignments might significantly benefit from air transport, while bulk shipments might be more cost-effectively handled via sea or rail.
Business organisations that embrace modern transport management systems will be well-positioned for continued success in the evolving world of transportation and distribution. It is an integral part of the supply chain that plays a key role in building and maintaining your firm’s reputation in the lens of customers.
It is recognised as a cornerstone of success. Good transportation can mean the difference between enhanced customer satisfaction and cancelled orders. Effective transport management ensures timely delivery, reduces transportation costs and enhances customer satisfaction.
Within the supply chain network, transportation is a linchpin, playing a surprisingly critical role that often goes unnoticed. It happens to be the lifeblood that keeps the supply chain flowing by ensuring that goods and services reach their destinations efficiently and effectively.
Automation has redefined the foundations of how goods move across the vast canvas of the globe. Embracing technology for route optimisation reduces miles travelled, saving fuel and time. With the interconnectedness of transport management tracking devices and systems, decision makers will significantly gain unprecedented visibility and control over their supply chains.
Tracking devises will serve as the nexus of modern supply chain management providing real time data, predictive analytics and comprehensive visibility which collectively drive informed decision-making. Regular vehicle checks based on predictive analytics will lead to a significant reduction in vehicle breakdowns, ultimately promoting consistent delivery service levels.
Automation will enable proper delivery scheduling which ensures timely drop-offs and pick-ups, reducing congestion and wasted resources. Transports management systems will, therefore, enable the business to streamline operations, enhance visibility and improve coordination in the supply chains ecosystem.
Automation allows for proactive communication with customers and the identification of potential delays and faster response to any unforeseen circumstances. Technological advancements, such as GPS tracking, route optimisation software and real-time visibility tools are paving the way for more efficient and responsive transportation systems.
Sustainability issues are critical in transport management. A poorly-run transport management system will increase fuel use, leading to an increase in the organisation’s carbon footprint and its impact on the environment.
Supply chains are required to transition to fuel-efficient or electric vehicles, using alternative fuels and optimising load capacities with a singular view to reduce carbon emissions and promote planet issues. Those organisations that respect green policies as well as the adoption of a sustainable transport system will create customer affinity and validation, a strategic way for organisations to rise above competition.
Transport service providers will continue to weave key sustainability initiatives into their operational fabric, aligning with burgeoning environmental concerns from the buying public. Eco-friendly practices are not just environmental gestures. They must provide real value.
Transporters who implement no-idle policies at loading docks contributes to reduced fossil fuel consumption. The need for transparency is so strong that those organisations that are not prepared to share information about their sustainability initiatives often face serious fallout and blowback.
In conclusion, it must be noted that the procurement world of work is evolving faster than ever, and it would appear the future is not just coming, it is already here, rendering old procurement management playbook obsolete.
Failure to manage the organisation’s transport management system is a silent performance killer creeping into organisational efficiencies. In supply chain, when everything is going according to plan, it is easy to look like a rock star, making the whole world your playground.
But it must always be remembered that supply markets do not follow the syllabus. Lessons are leant in real-time often painfully and without warning. The business environment has a way of humbling even the best performing procurement professionals.
However, remembering that transport management is a lubricant that helps individuals to operate efficiently can be the edge that sets supply chains apart. But it must again be remembered that transportation management is not a one-and-done task.
It must be regarded as ongoing value-addition process. The quest for best practices in transportation mandates a tailored approach. In a hyper-competitive market, every prompt delivery counts. It makes a difference.
Timely delivery is often as crucial as cost. Failure to deliver goods on time is a shortcut to irrelevance. Those who master this basic transport management rule do not just achieve more — they become more, giving procurement teams the opportunity to shine the brightest.
Nyika is a supply chain practitioner based in Harare. — [email protected].
